What motivates some posters?
 

All of us have read posts on this forum from posters who always seem to have a chip on their shoulders at best and seem downright mean, hostile, confrontational and almost cruel at worst.

They rarely have an avatar or a clue as to who they are, whether they live here, or why they seem so ANGRY.

In your opinion, what motivates them?

How should we respond?....if at all?

If you try to say anything, they usually say that people are bullies and try to flame them...when in truth is the things they post are so angry making so many times, it is hard to ignore them.

They have NEVER shown up at Crispers when I was there anyway..., and seem to relish their anonymous "jabs".

I am not talking about disagreeing, I am talking about stirring the pot.

Inferiority complex is the most likely culprit and of course dissatisfaction with ones own life. I have been around long enough to see some folks leave the site completely due to being restricted by Admin and the Monitors from berating other members. It must be a real burden to have a problem with everyone and everything around you. I have the urge to lean negative on occasion, but it is kept in check by my overly positive wife and ADMIN/MONITORS also give me a gentle smack when needed.

The anonymity of TOTV provides a convenient cover for those with bad intentions and its best to ignore them. Hopefully they will get the message and go away.

I just think they are so negative and unhappy it bothers them that some people have a very happy life and don't let the little things bother them.

It's like if I don't like a restaurant, I just don't go. I don't have a need to come on here and bash everyone who works at the restaurant. The negative people have the get the pot going & start stirring it.

You know that old saying... Misery loves company !!

EXLAX deficiency!

Trolls
 

Every blog out in cyberspace has its trolls. Little creatures who sit in their home and anonymously post hateful stuff and stir things up. They thrive on this stuff. Most likely they have been doing this all their life and they are a bully. Most likely if you met them in person and had a conversation with them, it would be one-sided. :blahblahblah:

Best thing to do is ignore them, and don't contribute to the post. Trolls hate being ignored and will eventually stop and go away.

On any blog, I really try to live by the old adage, if you don't have anything nice to say....

As a newbie, I read this blog every day and have learned a lot. But, I ignore comments from Trolls.

Trolls suck, their advice sucks, they are Bs, and you can't take it personally.

Now go out and enjoy your day in The Villages.

Cheers-Katie

Stinkin Thinkin?!?!?!?!

Actually I think it's human nature and if at all possible try to understand some folks just like to stir it up. Gracie, I believe you have enough grace in your heart these posts won't keep you down for long.

And the good news is they are in the minority and we shall persevere.

Sadly, anonymity brings out the worst in many. It's so easy to be as nasty as you like because no one knows who you are. Every online site has a few. With good moderators, they are usually kept in check. I run a parenting board and you should see some of the attempted flamers there (you flame once, the post is deleted, you're warned; second time you put on automatic approval of any posts; third time you're history).

I don't think these folks are necessarily unhappy with their lives, they just are bored and want to stir things up. For some, they seem to act as if the only way they get any attention is by bad behavior. Personally, I feel sorry for them. Never understood the concept that negative attention is better than no attention. The best thing we can do is ignore them and let the mods handle the dolts.

If folks were required to use their real name on the internet instead of remaining anonymous, there'd be a lot less rude and obnoxious postings. Yet, one could still responsibly make a valid negative point without the need to light a flame.

I think there is some of the "Let's stir things up" mentality. But for most of the so-called trolls, I find that what they are really looking for is validation of what they themselves believe.

I have a feeling Katie has lurked in a lot of forums, like me. She beat me to the punch and is absolutely correct. The trolls inhabit every forum, and the best response is none at all. That's not always easy, and I will admit to replying now and then. But you can't let them get to you, because that's exactly what they want.

Now, like Katie said...enjoy! :smiley:

By the way, totally off-topic but just for fun, here's a picture of my Katy (different spelling, but what-the-heck):

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...vis44/Katy.jpg[/IMG]

To give those people some maybe undeserved credit, maybe they just like to play devil's advocate, but many of them carry it way to far. What gets me is people who don't live here pointing out all negative things, etc...but I have to admit I also don't like what seems to me to be somewhat arrognant...someone new asks an innocent question and someone else immediately replies with a link. I don't know, I think an answer is better and more friendly than a link, but thats just me.

I think that some people feel they have lived long enough to be firm in their opinions and have the "my truth is the only truth" and if people disagree with me, then they have rose colored glasses on. Some people like to drag people down to their level ie misery loves company or I raise myself up by putting other people down.

It's like I say to my family, if one wants to have a good time come on along. For those who don't, stay home and be miserable.

I don't get into it with some posters but agree to disagree respectfully. It's just as easy to say, "that's interesting" as oppossed to saying, "that's a load of cr*p".

"I don't let people rent space in my head".

I'm back.
Hello all ( u all )
Boy Howdy.
It is odd that I see more grumpy grippers on here than my week walkin and talkin in the TV.
Everyone I met was happy and just loved my puppies.
We drank the cool aid together.

Good story on trolls and their motivations.
 

Why People Troll and How to Stop Them

I have a lot of experience with trolls having been the target of one particularly vicious one on Findlaw's message boards for about five years (2000-2005). That's when there were not that many controls put on some message boards. I do not really see the Wild Wild West kind of environment online anymore.

The best approach as many have advised is to ignore them.

Those eyes say I am beautiful and I know it.

Hey Cisco - where you been???

I have been in Florida on a road trip to Stuart to pickup a old car.

Then a week right by TV in Umitilla. I have a sister there.

this is why it's fun to read.

I dont even know why this post was started. Except to get people to respond in a negative way. If you dont want negativity dont ask for it. If I am being negative then oh well.

Hi Mudder!

I do a lot of what you describe, at least in a couple of situations:

- a member posts a question about something that's already been addressed/answered on TOTV in the past, and

- a member posts a question that can be answered with a reply but is also supported further by the info in a link.

I'll post a link/links that should help them get the answer(s) they're looking for, simply as a means to be helpful.

If it does come across as arrogant in my case, I apologize as it's certainly not intended to be that way.

Thanks -
Bill :)

Bill I like all your help, keep it up. :BigApplause:

Up north, we had a "friend" who was this way in real life! ALWAYS wanting to stir the pot!!! His wife is the sweetest person---people gravitate to her. BUT him, think they've lost A LOT of friends due to his behavior.

I think some folks just want the attention. They aren't happy people in the first place, here--they have way too much time on their hands. We not only see bad behavior here---but out and about in T.V. (and elsewhere too).

Yesterday for example, I was driving my golf cart, had to stop for pedestrians and a car behind me laid on his horn. Down the way at a stop-sign he pulls up along side and literally is yelling/hollering (can't understand a word of his bluster) at me. What the heck is wrong with people?? I was only following the law of letting folks walk---it was in a designated pedestrian walkway too.

Bill:

You are the "King of Links: never to be dethroned. :smiley:

I always find you links to be helpful. I look at it like, if a long resonse is required, why retype the answer when you can refer to it via link.

Joe :wave:

I
 

Darn...that's what I did wrong! (does anyone know how to change my screen name??)

Guess I am guilty as charged. I post a lot of links for people to get information, factful information not just an opinion, or what a friend of a friend told me. Some posters reply with an on and on explanation preceded by a "I don't know or I'm not sure". If you go to the link, you get all the facts..........usually.

I think you have helped me out on occasion when I needed some info off this board, and I appreciated those links. Thanks!

Often, in the early stages of dementia, frustration is accompanied by anger...leading to unkind outbursts...verbally and via keyboard.
Since it is literally irrational, there is no possible rational response to it. Ignore, walk away.

Drive on
 

I appreciate the "link method" of getting to the "chase" of an issue or question. You guys keep it up! As for me, I've learned a lot more good information than I've given out on TOTV. About the "negative stuff" and motivation of negative posts-----I look at this way-----You could drive a pickup load of money up to some folks house to give them, and they would complain about the model of truck you were driving. Drive on!

...

Gracie,
I was wondering about Crispers. We've avoided going because we weren't sure if there would be two "camps". We both left behind confrontational jobs with a fair amount of negativity. Someday we'll show up and get to see a bunch of smiling faces. :D

Bill, Personally, I would rather see a link than a personal interpretation of the info.
Thanks.

Bill,
Ummm, I think arrogant was the wrong word to use, I think maybe I meant something like impersonal. I don't know, of course I like the links to the real facts but sometimes people have personal experience to share in reference to a question. Please forget I used that word, way to harsh.

I find it interesting that their are 4 pages of people passing judgement on people that have passed judgement.

Does this posting make me a pot stirring troll?

You decide, because this thread has been more about suggesting better ways to communicate and not simply passing judgement. It is a fine line, but look closely and one can understand the difference.

You are such a nice person Mudder.

I understand what you're saying, Mudder. But sometimes, especially when the topic has been discussed thoroughly on TOTV, it's more convenient to be given a link.

And if it's a topic that requires some reading and explanation, a link is faster. As an example, VG's link to a workaround on Windows 7 & 8 led to a video that explained it so well.

It's nice to get posters' opinions too, though.

And as for trolls--try reading the comments after an NPR article, or after a New York Times article, or any big newspaper. They may start out as comments, but you can reply to them, and they get vicious. We are pussycats compared to a lot of those people. Anonymity really brings out the worst in some people.

And Crispers meets only have nice people!

Lndlocked: spot on. In addition may I offer another explanation as to why a member would prefer anonymity. I once wrote an opinion for publication in the local paper citing the dilemma presented when driving a cart behind a very slow riding bicyclist. Lo and behold I received a call from a gentleman who had taken umbrage and called to tell me off. I did manage to get a word in edgewise and when I did was able to explain the article was about the problems confronted with designing multi-modal pathways and not bike riders.

I believe there are many members out there who simply cherish their privacy and do not use their anonymity for evil purposes.

I have noted that some members kill the messenger when the messenger simply spoke the truth. I believe in live and let live. I welcome anyone's opinion promise to work toward understanding them but cannot promise to agree with them.

Longer than I intended to be. sorry

I agree. There does seem to be quite a bit of judgement passing, and there are some that are not happy with various actions of the Developer, who, when they express their views, are branded evil. "Love it or leave it", "don't let the door hit you on the way out", and all that nonsense. People who can't give others the opportunity to express their opinion without labeling them in such a way, are not worth bothering with, IMHO. I ignore them.